Over two days have lapsed since he made the “First Hindu Terrorist” remark at Aravakurichi, but DMK president MK Stalin has conspicuously kept mum on the subject. Even his ally Congress has welcomed the debate triggered by Kamal and lauded him for his clarity of thought.

Stalin has made it a point to not rake up the issue in either his campaign or in the letters he pens for DMK party organ Murasoli.

Curiously, not even his subordinates have ended their silence on the issue thus far.

An otherwise active Twitterati in the higher ranks of the DMK, including some young MLAs have maintained stoic silence and that too when the issue was creating a political storm in the state with the state BJP and its ally AIADMK going hammer and tongs against the actor-politician for his remark.

DMK insiders admitted privately that they have skirted the issue to avoid being dragged into another religious controversy.

The principal opposition party has reasons to be wary of the issue, for, not so long ago, it was in the thick of controversy for a sensitive comment made by its parent organisation Dravidar Kazhagam.

The DMK had to do so much as issue a clarification that it was not an anti-Hindu party and it does not subscribe to offending anyone’s religious views.

Even DMK insiders, who did not wish to be named, admitted that they did not want to be dragged into another religious controversy ahead of a crucial Assembly by-election.

“They (opposition) had already attempted to flare up religious sentiments and eat into our votes during the Lok Sabha elections. Even now, our rivals have floated cooked up stories about our leaders contacting BJP seniors to split minority votes.

It is not advisable to get involved in this now,” said a DMK senior, conceding that such issues were best left to the party president to speak and not for second rung leaders.